Multipurpose bag



June 14, 1955 G. M. FARLS MULTIPURPOSE BAG Filed A rii 24, 1955- 2 Sheets-Sheet'l INVENTOR. meuaeuejy flaw/k June 14, 1955 M, FARLs 2,710,639

MULTIPURPOSE BAG Filed April 24, 1953 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 a? 15 .15 ll 1,5, J7 J6 J5 J5 J7 50 uvmvnm @zzez/zeoefl i47 BY ahpzna/tw 2,710,639 Patented June 14, 1955 MULTIPURPOSE BAG Genevieve M. Farls, Chicago, Ill.

Application April 24, 1953, Serial No. 350,884

2 Claims. (Cl. 1507) This invention relates to a multipurpose bag.

The principal object of this invention is to provide an improved multipurpose bag which is particularly adapted for a number of purposes or uses, such as, an open waist supported apron bag or utility bag, a closed waist supported pocket book or bag, a shoulder supported draw bag, or a hand supported hand draw bag, which may be readily converted from one type of bag to the other, which is extremely attractive in appearance, and which may be inexpensively manufactured.

Briefly, the multipurpose bag of this invention includes a pocket portion having a pair of normally flat sides and which is open at its top and closed at its ends and bottom. It also includes a flap portion which extends upwardly from the top of each of the sides of the pocket portion and each flap portion has a plurality of button holes therein. The button holes in one flap portion lies adjacent the button holes in the other flap portion when the flap portions are adjacent each other. A plurality of buttons are secured on the outside of one of the sides of the pocket portion in vertical alignment with the button holes in the flap portions and they are so positioned as to be received in the button holes of one or both of the flap portions when the latter are folded down over the buttons. The multipurpose bag also includes a strap which is arranged to be laced through the button holes of one or both of the flap portions or received under one of the flap portions when the latter is buttoned down.

When one of the flap portions is buttoned down, the strap may be laced through the button holes of the other flap portion and secured around the waist, and this provides an open waist supported apron bag or utility bag which is extremely useful in performing household chores. Such an apron bag or utility bag, being open at its top, provides an accessible and convenient depository for such household items as Clothespins, brushes. dust cloths and the like.

When one of the flap portions is buttoned down and the other flap portion is inserted through a belt or the strap secured around the waist and then also buttoned down, there is readily provided a closed waist supported pocket book or bag. Such a bag is handy for carrying valuables as during shopping or the like. The bag is securely fastened to the wearer so that it cannot be lost or mislaid and both hands are left free. At the same time the bag is substantially pilfer proof since it is securely closed by the buttons.

When the flap portions are both unbuttoned, the strap may be laced through the button holes of both flap portions and may be used for drawing together the open top of the pocket portion to form a closed carrying bag. The strap may be laced through in single fashion and the ends may be secured together as by buckling or tying to form a shoulder strap for carrying the bag. On the other hand, the strap may be doubled before lacing it through the button holes and drawing the bag closed.

The strap may then be tied to form a short loop so that the bag may be carried as a hand bag.

The multipurpose bag of this invention may be made from any desired type of material, such as, for example, woven or knitted fabric with or without a pile, synthetic plastics, or the like. It may have any desired color or combination of colors or design for enhancing the appearance thereof. The buttons in addition to performing their utilitarian functions also add to the decorative appearance of the bag. Preferably, the bag is provided with a water repellent lining so that wet or damp articles 'may be safely carried therein.

Further objects of this invention reside in the details of construction of the multipurpose bag and in the cooperative relationships between the component parts thereof.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to the accompanying specification, claims and draw ings in which:

Figure 1 is a view illustrating the multipurpose bag used as an open waist supported apron bag or utility bag.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating the multipurpose bag used as a closed waist supported pocket book or bag.

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure l but illustrating the multipurpose bag used as a shoulder supported draw bag.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Figure l but showing the multipurpose bag used as a hand supported hand draw bag.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the multipurpose bag showing the strap laced through the button holes of both flap portions.

Figure 6 is an elevational view of the multipurpose bag showing one of the flap portions buttoned down and without a pile, synthetic plastics or the like.

the strap laced through the button holes of the other flap portion.

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line '7 7 of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an elevational view of the multipurpose bag with both flap portions buttoned down about the strap or belt.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a perspective view of the multipurpose bag showing the strap laced through the button holes in both flap portions in single fashion and with the open top of the bag drawn together.

Figure 11 is a perspective view similar to Figure 10 but illustrating the strap doubled over before lacing through the button holes of both flap portions and with the open top of the bag drawn together.

Referring first to Figures 5 and 7, the multipurpose bag of this invention is generally designated at 10. It includes a pocket portion 11 having front and rear flat sides 12 and 13, a closed bottom 14 and closed ends 15. The top of the pocket portion is open as indicated at 16. The bag may be made out of any desired type of material, such as, for example, woven or knitted fabric with or Here, the bag may be formed from a sheet of such material and folded over at the bottom to form the closed bottom 14. The ends of the pocket portion of the bag may be closed by forming a suitable seam as indicated at 15.

Flap portions 17 and 18 extend upwardly from the top of each of the sides 12 and 13 of the pocket portion 11 and these flap portions 17 and 18 may be formed from extensions on the tops of the sides of the pocket portion.

. Preferably, these extensions are folded inwardly as indicated at 19 and 20 in order to provide a double face on the flap portions. The edges of the fiap portions 17 and 18 may be sewn together by suitable seams.

If the bag of this invention is made of woven or knitted fabric or the like, it is preferably provided with a water repellent liner 22 which may take the form of a sack of rubber, synthetic plastic or the like. This sack shaped liner 22 is preferably secured in the pocket portion thereof by sewing or otherwise securing the upper edges thereof to the inwardly extending portions 19 and 20 as indicated at 23. Thus, the liner may be pulled from the pocket portion of the bag when the bag is ironed or the like. This prevents scorching or deterioration of the liner which might otherwise be brought about during ironing.

The flap portion 17 is provided with a plurality of button holes 25, three being shown for purposes of illustration. In a like manner the other flap portion 13 is provided with a plurality of button holes 26. The button holes 25 in the flap portion 17 lie adjacent to the button holes 26 in the flap portion 18 when the flap portions are located adjacent each other. The front side 12 of the pocket portion 11 has a plurality of buttons 27 suitably secured on the outside thereof. These buttons are in vertical alignment with the button holes in the flap portions and they are so positioned as to be received in the button holes in one or both of the flap portions when the latter are folded down over the buttons. The bag also is provided with a strap 28 and this strap is arranged to be laced through the button holes 25 and 26 of one or both flap portions 17 and 18 and it is also arranged to bereceived under the flap portion 18 when the latter is buttoned down by the buttons 27.

In Figures 5 and 7 the strap 28 is shown to be laced in single fashion through the button holes 25 and 26 of the upwardly extending flap portions 17 and 18. The strap operates to draw together the open top of the pocket portion 11 as indicated in Figure 10. The ends of the strap 28 may be secured together as by means of a buckle (not shown) or tied in a knot as indicated in Figure 10. The strap 28 in addition to drawing together the open top of the bag also provides a long loop whereby the bag may be carried as a shoulder bag as illustrated in Figure 3.

Instead of lacing the strap 28 through the button holes 25 and 26 in single fashion, the strap may first be doubled before lacing the same through these button holes. In so doing the effective length of the strap 28 is shortened but at the same time it also operates to draw together the open top of the pocket portion 11 as indicated in Figure ll. The extending ends of the strap 28 may be tied in a knot as indicated in Figure ll so as to form a relatively short loop for carrying the bag. In this instance the bag may be used as a hand supported hand bag as illustrated in Figure 4.

As shown in Figure 6 the flap portion 17 may be buttoned down by the buttons 27 and the strap 28 may be laced through the button holes 26 in the flap portion 18. When this is done, the strap 28 may be secured around the waist to provide an open waist supported apron bag or utility bag, the use of which is illustrated in Figure 1. The open bag so carried by the waist of the wearer provides an accessible and convenient depository for such household items as clothespins, brushes, dust cloths and the like. The bag when so used as illustrated in Figure l is, therefore, extremely useful in performing household chores.

As shown in Figures 8 and 9 the fiap portion 17 is buttoned down by the buttons 27 and the other flap portion 18 is passed under the strap 28 or other belt secured around the waist of the wearer. The flap portion 18 is then buttoned down by the buttons 27 for securing the bag to the strap 28- or other belt. Here is thus provided a closed waist supported pocket book or bag. The use of this arrangement of the bag is illustrated in Figure 2. Such a bag is handy for carrying valuables during shopping or the like. The bag is securely fastened to the wearer so that it cannot be lost or mislaid and at the same time both hands are left free. Because the bag is securely closed by the buttons, it is substantially pilfer proof.

The bag of this invention is, therefore, a multipurpose bag which is particularly adapted for a number of purposes or uses, such as, an open waist supported apron bag or utility bag as illustrated in Figure l, a closed waist supported pocket book or bag as illustrated in Figure 2, a shoulder supported draw bag as illustrated in Figure 3 and a hand supported draw hand bag as illustrated in Figure 4. The multipurpose bag of this invention may be readily converted from one type of bag to another merely by manipulating the strap and the buttons. The bag is extremely attractive in appearance in addition to having the foregoing utilitarian features. The bag is simple in construction, it is manipulated readily and may be inexpensively manufactured.

The bag may be used by women of difierent age groups and may be utilized advantageously on different occasions dependent upon the size of the bag and types of materials used in fabricating the bag. In addition to the uses explained above the bag may be used, for example, by school children for carrying pencils and the like, and if made of beach material or the like itmay be used for beach purposes for carrying bathing suits, etc.

While for purposes of illustration one form of this invention has been disclosed other forms thereof may become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reference to this disclosure and, therefore, this invention is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. A multipurpose bag comprising a pocket portion having a pair of normally fiat sides and open at its top and closed at its ends and bottom, a fiap portion extend ing upwardly from the top of each of the sides of the pocket portion and each having a plurality of button holes therein, the button holes in one flap portion overlying the button holes in the other fiap portion when the flap portions are adjacent each other, a plurality of buttons secured on the outside of one of the sides of the pocket portion in vertical alignment with the button holes in the flap portions and positioned to be received in the button holes of one or both of the flap portions when the latter are folded down over the buttons, and a strap cooperatively associated with the flap portions and arranged to be laced through the button holes of one or both flap portions or received under one of the flap portions when the latter is buttoned down.

2. A multipurpose bag comprising, a pocket portion having a pair of normally fiat sides and open at its top and closed at its ends and bottom, extensions on the tops of the sides of the pocket portion which are folded inwardly and secured to the inside of the sides of the pocket portion to form a two-ply flap portion extending upwardly from the top of each of the sides of the pocket portion, each flap portion having a plurality of button holes there in with the button holes in one flap portion overlying the button holes in the other flap portion when the flap portions are adjacent each other, a plurality of buttons secured on the outside of one of the sides of the pocket portion in vertical alignment with the button holes in the flap portions and positioned to be received in the button holes of one or both of the flap portions when the latter are folded down over the buttons, and a strap cooperatively associated with the flap portions and arranged to be laced through the button holes of one or both fiap por tions or received under one of the flap portions when the latter is buttoned down.

(Qther references on following page) 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS Weller May 6, 1902 Hinaman Ian. 2, 1906 Thomhill et a1. Oct. 30, 1934 Isaac Jan. 8, 1946 Babaian Mar. 21, 1950 6 Kleiss ct a1. Jan. 1, 1952 Cohen Apr. 21, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 1, 1921 Austria May 10, 1938 

